MAP South Campus announces 2016 Players of the Year

The Minnesota Advancement Program (MAP) South Campus is proud to announce its Players of the Year for the 2016 training season. As chosen by our staff, these members exceeded expectations and consistently performed at a high level on and off the ice. Several key areas, among others, that these players excelled in are: skills and game play improvement, on-ice games performance, off-ice development and growth, work ethic and coachability, attitude and focus, and passion for the game. Our staff as a whole is incredibly proud to have these players in our program. We would like to thank each of these players for making such strong contributions to our culture, and providing a strong example for others to follow.

PRO Tier - TJ Oshie, Washington Capitals (NHL)

TJ provides a fantastic example to our young players with his commitment to continued development. It is remarkable to see a player of his caliber who still has a drive to improve his game. TJ's off-ice work ethic has been incredibly strong since he started with the program 3 years ago. He also shows his passion for the game each time he is in the building, as showcased by his game performances during the summer. TJ set a career high in goals (26) during the 2015-16 season with the Caps, and had a good showing in playoffs to finish the year (10 points in 12 games).

Jackson's career has been on a steady rise for the past few years, and his commitment in the off-season has a lot to do with that. The Michigan Tech-commit completed a brilliant high school career with his Stillwater Ponies last year (53 points in 25 games as a senior). Jackson put in steady work, both on the ice and in the weight room, this past summer in preparation for his first season of junior hockey. He has made significant improvements to his strength and explosive skating to go along with the continued development of his puck skills and hockey IQ.

What a rise to prominence it has been for this talented defenseman. After two years of dedication and focus on his game, Sam has become one of the premiere two-way blue liners at the high school level. His commitment toward the growth of his physical tools combined with above average on-ice awareness has made Sam a fantastic player for us to work with. Sam's growth has resulted in a successful junior season in 2015-16 (22 points in 25 games). He was also selected to Team Northeast of the Upper Midwest HS Elite League this past fall. Sam's career will be one to watch in the future.

During an eight-month span that is our training season, it is difficult for any athlete to maintain their highest level of competitiveness and focus for that entire period of time. But Billy is clearly the exception to that statement. Both on the ice and in the weight room, we have yet to see this individual "take a day off." Through his consistent focus, Billy has improved his physical tools, while growing his awareness and effective decision making as a defenseman. No one will be shocked to see his stock continue to rise in the years to come. Billy is off to a strong start to his first season with CDH's varsity team.

Young in age but incredibly mature in focus, Zach had set big goals for himself following the conclusion of this first season of high school hockey last year. He made a major transformation to his game through the strength and speed he developed in the weight room. These attributes added to an already deadly offensive force as both a playmaker and finisher. Zach was a strong event performer this past year as well, with big weekends during the '00 Spring Showcase and U16 Fall Tour. Through the first 7 games, Zach is currently tied for the team lead in points on Eastview varsity and leads the team in goals.

After only his first year with the program, Tim wasted no time in making his impact on his peers, coaches and teachers here. A player of great passion and compete level, he has developed into an effective presence on both sides of the puck. Tim made significant improvements to his skating explosiveness, strength on the puck, and defensive awareness. He showcased his game in a big way with a monster performance at the 2016 Bantam Preview. He is currently enjoying his second season with the Burnsville Bantam AA team, and having a successful campaign so far.

Lucas was another first-year member that had a fantastic summer in our building. A fun, energetic personality to go along with a high-end offensive skill set made him a favorite teammate amongst his peers. Lucas' impact on the ice and locker room is a perfect balance that we hope each young player strives for. He was also a strong performer on the big stage, with a top notch weekend at the 2016 Bantam Preview. Lucas is a first-year on the SLP Bantam AA team this season.

Our staff is very fortunate to get to work with such skilled and talented players at our younger age groups. But Dylan's game is something completely different. When puck skills, athletic skating, and an accelerated level of on-ice awareness are mixed with a strong desire to put points on the board, the result is this exciting young stud. Dylan's offensive game is as entertaining as it gets. And his work ethic and coachability make for one of the brightest prospects in our program. Look for Dylan to continue to make major jumps in his game over the next few years. Dylan is off to a blazing hot start in his second year on the Woodbury Peewee AA squad.

Nick has made a tremendous jump in his game in back-to-back training seasons and shows no signs of slowing down. Notable achievements are his improved hockey IQ and utilization of his refined physical attributes. Nick has become an effective power forward on the ice, capable of making his impact known in lots of different scenarios. A highlight of this was a big performance at the U18 Fall Tour. But Nick's hunger to improve has been his greatest asset. The growth that he has made happens on a regular basis due to his focus and work ethic. He is an enjoyable and exciting athlete for our staff to work with. Nick will continue to make waves in the hockey world as his game progresses.

Robbie has been a staff favorite since his first days in the program. He balances a great locker room presence with a strong compete level. Robbie has shown growth in several key areas, due to his intelligence level and coachability. Robbie also enjoyed the challenge of the big stage, with several strong performances in Gatorade G-Series games versus the North Campus and also during the U16 Fall Tour. Robbie is a valued member of ours due to his impact on his peers and contributions to the culture here.